Work- Family Boundary Permeability and Bidirectional Work- Family Conflict among Construction Professionals in the United Arab Emirates: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

Biju K C

Abstract: Background: Construction professionals often work under deadline and availability pressures, yet evidence from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the two directions of work?family conflict remains limited. This exploratory study distinguished work-to-family conflict (W→F) from family-to-work conflict (F→W) and examined their associations with work demands, role blurring, family-domain strain, and perceived support. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of consenting construction professionals working in the UAE yielded 47 analytic responses. Five-point composite measures assessed work demands, role blurring, household strain, family-time strain, social restriction, psychosomatic symptoms, three sources of support, W→F, and F→W. Pearson correlations and two parsimonious linear-regression models were used. Findings are association estimates only. Results: W→F was modestly higher than F→W (means 2.72 and 2.41, respectively, on five-point scales). Work demands correlated positively with W→F, but role blurring was the clearer adjusted correlate when both were entered together. Household strain and family-time strain each remained positively associated with F→W in their joint model. Supervisor and partner support were inversely correlated with both conflict directions; the evidence for co-worker support was less precise. The two regression models explained about one-third of the variation in their respective outcomes. Conclusions: The results are consistent with a bidirectional account of work?family conflict in this participating UAE construction sample. Boundary permeability appears particularly relevant to W→F, while household and family-time strain appear relevant to F→W. Given the small, non-probability, predominantly male and married sample and the cross-sectional self-report design, replication with a larger, more diverse, preregistered study is essential before drawing causal or sector-wide conclusions.

Keywords: work-family conflict, boundary permeability, construction professionals, expatriate workforce, social support, United Arab Emirates

How to Cite?: Biju K C, "Work- Family Boundary Permeability and Bidirectional Work- Family Conflict among Construction Professionals in the United Arab Emirates: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 513-516, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26807201554, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26807201554

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